A/N: I am sorry this took so long. I have been so busy, but fortunately, my workload has just lessened and I will be able to update more frequently.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I loved all of the feedback.

Thanks to Athena's Warrior for the idea. I added a character to it because I thought it would be more fun. XD

Warning: Ummm…. None really. A bad attempt a humor? XD

Disclaimer: I don't own it.

13- Misfortune

The sun was just beginning to set when the group of five stopped for the night. The sky was a warm pink and the cool spring air smelled of damp soil.

Halt looked over at his four companions as he unloaded the saddlebags. His eyes drifted from where Will, Gilan, and Horace were building a fire to where Crowley was setting out supplies for dinner.

Halt was extremely glad that Crowley was with him on this mission. He didn't think that he could handle three young men by himself.

He finished unpacking and then took a seat by the fire, where a pot of stew was already brewing.

When the stew was ready, they ate in silence, all too hungry to speak.

Will, Horace, and Gilan began arguing about something pointless when Crowley stood.

"Halt, could I speak to you a moment," Crowley asked, his tone ominous and his face impassive. Halt nodded, standing up and following his friend a few feet into the forest. When they were out of earshot, Crowley turned to face Halt.

"I am leaving," he blurted.

Halt glanced up at his friend, a look of horror plastered on his face. "What?"

"You heard me," Crowley said. "I'm leaving. I have to go back to Castle Araluen."

"You're going to leave me here with them, alone?" Halt whispered, his voice raising. Gilan, Will and Horace glanced over from their spots at the campfire. Halt swallowed and lowered his volume.

"I thought we were friends, Crowley," Halt said.

"We are… we are!" Crowley said, his eyes pleading with his friend to understand. "But I have duties I have to attend to."

Halt nodded slowly, sighing. "Ok," he said.

"That means you will have to check the border outposts without me," Crowley said, clapping his friend on the shoulder.

"Yes," Halt said. "That's not the part I'm worried about."

Crowley laughed and then began to walk back to the fire. Halt followed him, making his face blank once more.

"Crowley just informed me that he will be leaving us," Halt said.

"That's disappointing. I was looking forward to this mission because I thought it would be all of us… but that's ok, we still have you, Halt…" Gilan said.

"But that sure is unfortunate. I wonder where Crowley is going?" Will asked and the three young men began to chatter amongst themselves.

"No kidding. Now I have the misfortune of camping with you three alone," Halt muttered.

"Did you say something, Halt?" asked Horace, who was still spooning soup into his mouth like a madman.

"No," Halt grumbled, before walking towards his bedroll.

MISFORTUNE

"HALT! We are ready to go, Halt!"

Halt tried to ignore the insistent voice in his ear, but it wouldn't go away.

Will looked down at his mentor, who hadn't moved. "Is he dead?" he asked, reaching out a hand to shake the grizzled ranger awake.

A hand shot out of the mass of blankets, grabbing Will's wrist. Halt sat up, releasing the apprentice's arm.

"What is it?" he asked.

"We are all ready to go. We are waiting on you," Will said, grinning and rubbing his wrist.

Halt rolled his eyes. "And so you decided to wake me up?"

Will nodded, unable to contain his grin.

Halt raised an eyebrow and hoisted himself into Abelard's saddle. "Come on then…" he grumbled and the group set off into the trees.

MISFORTUNE

"HALT!"

"Yes, Will?"

"Are we there yet?"

"No. We still have about a days ride," Halt growled.

Five minutes later…

"Halt?"

"Yes, Gilan?"

"Why are we going to check the border?"

Halt let out a huge sigh before answering. "I've told you before. We have to check the outposts because we haven't gotten a report back from three of the border outposts since last month."

"Oh," Gilan said. "I remember you telling me that now."

Halt rolled his eyes, wondering how much more he could take before he broke. It was half an hour later when Horace and Will started to bicker.

"I did not scream like a girl!" Will exclaimed.

"Yes, you did," Horace said. "I jumped out from behind the tree and you screamed like a little six year old girl. And then you nearly took my head off with your knife."

"I did not scream like a girl! I shouted in shock, but it was a manly shout," Will said.

"Did too…"

"Did not!"

"Did too…"

"Did not!"

"DID TOO!"

"DID NO…"

"STOP!" Halt barked suddenly, giving them his most fearsome glare.

Will and Horace swallowed and were silent for a while.

Twenty minutes later…

Will was digging through his pack when he spotted something.

"Oh! I almost forgot. Jenny made us all some pies!" he said, puling out a bag.

Halt nearly jumped out of the saddle. This is the last straw… he thought.

"No! You will not be eating any sugar. I don't want you guys going…" he exclaimed, but it was too late.

Gilan, Horace, and Will had already dug into the cakes. Halt shuddered with the thought of the time to come.

Later that night….

"WILL GET OUT OF THE TREE! NO, HORACE, DO NOT PLAY WITH MY BOW. YOU MIGHT BREAK IT…. GILAN, WHY ARE YOU JUMPING UP AND DOWN? THAT IS ANNOYING."

Halt was spinning in circles, watching the three young men wreck havoc. Eventually, he fell to his knees his head spinning. There was nothing he could do but wait out this misfortune and hope for the best.

A/N: So that was supposed to be funny… I hope you found it at least a small bit amusing. I'm not sure I quite liked it, but you know…. XD

I would appreciate it if you would take the time to review.

Next up will be Smile. Any ideas? XD

Thank you for reading!

-Dawn